TPCC
Tennessee Prison
College Coalition
In 2019, The Tennessee Prison College Coalition (TPCC) was launched, for strategic and timely collaboration across state agencies, colleges and universities and service providers to increase access and support for justice-impacted students pursuing higher education in and after prison, with an emphasis on ensuring program quality and equity.
TPCC is led by THEI in partnership with key partners:
TPCC Priorities
Centering Students and Student Support
TPCC’s priorities are informed by extensive survey feedback from incarcerated HEP students in Tennessee, as well as listening sessions and focus groups with HEP alumni. Recognizing the essential insights that directly impacted students bring, HEP alumni actively contribute as valued members and partners in TPCC working groups, helping to shape policies and practices that enhance higher education in prison.
TPCC partners take a holistic approach to student support, addressing needs from pre-enrollment through degree completion, reentry, and employment. By identifying and filling existing support gaps, facilitating warm hand-offs and seamless transitions, and ensuring students receive the resources they need, TPCC fosters a more equitable and effective higher education landscape for justice-impacted individuals.
TPCC is committed to
#1
Ensuring student support is responsive to their needs.
#2
Establishing safeguards against exploitative or harmful practices.
#3
Bridging gaps in support throughout the student journey.
These goals are strengthened by the TPCC Professional Learning Community, which brings together educators, practitioners, and advocates to share knowledge and build capacity. Learn more about the TPCC Learning Community, participate in professional development, and explore valuable HEP resources here:
Expanding Access and Reducing Barriers
In 2019, Governor Lee launched the Correction Education Investment, a commitment to expanding education and reentry opportunities within Tennessee prisons. As a result, Tennessee’s Community Colleges and Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) now offer certificate and associate degree programs in most TDOC facilities statewide.
Through this exciting season of opportunity, TPCC partners have worked proactively and collaboratively to continue to expand access for
#1
Additional cohorts or students.
#2
Additional degree offerings and pathways, including Bachelor’s Degree programs.
#3
College programs at additional prison locations.
Working with Government
The group has also worked closely with the Office of the Governor to flag legislative priorities that would improve the lives of justice impacted students, like reducing barriers that people with criminal backgrounds face in pursuing professional licensure.
Ensuring Quality and Equity
TPCC is dedicated to ensuring that all students in Tennessee prisons have access to high-quality higher education and are not unjustly excluded from programs. To uphold these standards, TPCC is developing the state's first HEP Program Quality Indicator Tool—an innovative framework designed to be implemented by the Tennessee Department of Correction and partnering colleges and universities. This tool will establish clear benchmarks for quality and excellence across all HEP programs in Tennessee, promoting equity and consistency in higher education opportunities.
Busby Data Sharing and Partnership
TPCC is actively building a sustainable, systems-based approach to HEP in Tennessee, with the potential to serve as a model for other states. Through strong partnerships and collaboration, TPCC has fostered a community committed to ethical data collection and sharing, ensuring seamless transitions for students as they progress through their educational journey.
Culture Shifting
TPCC unites partners and agencies across Tennessee in a shared commitment to the success of HEP students. Previously operating independently, these organizations now collaborate to expand access, enhance support, and ensure meaningful opportunities for justice-impacted students, creating a more cohesive and effective system.
The Work of TPCC has been made possible by generous support from the ECMC Foundation and the Laughing Gull Foundation.